New officers were elected to the 2018 board of directors for the MS Center of Southwest Florida. Brian McGinty of Naples was elected as board chair, to replace outgoing chair Julie Fisher, who served in that capacity for the past five years.
McGinty is a retired executive with more than 25 years in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries at Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Allergan, Serono, and Biogen.
McGinty said that through his professional experience, he gained an understanding of the needs of patients with multiple sclerosis and the challenges doctors and hospitals face in delivering care. While he ran the Biogen patient services organization in Raleigh, N.C., he met patients with multiple sclerosis who helped him understand their disease.
“My interest in chairing the board stems directly from my experiences in working with those affected with MS, along with their caregivers and families,” he said.
McGinty joined the MS Center of Southwest Florida’s board in 2016, is a member of the North Naples Rotary club, serves on his neighborhood board and spends the rest of his free time playing golf, exercising, and traveling with his wife, Carol, whose father had MS.
Incoming vice chairman is Dr. Niki Varveris, who will assume office in January. She is a physical therapist and owner of PhysioNetics physical therapy clinic in Naples.
A board member for a year, Varveris explained her desire to be part of the leadership team. “As both a small business owner and a member of the health care field I have had a unique opportunity to share our mission with individuals and organizations in our community. … My appreciation for the enormity of the work being done both at the center and by this board has led to my desire to take a more active leadership role in steering the organization into the future.”
Varveris has two daughters, ages 21 and 17. She is a 5th-degree black belt in taekwondo and enjoys horseback riding on her days off.
Other members of the MS Center of Southwest Florida’s Board of Directors are: Paul Bellenoit, Shannon Diener, Eric Feinstein, Julie Fisher, Matt Flores, Darren Gersch, Jamie Huntington, Jeff Knight, Paul Pentz, and Dr. Jim Wilkerson.
The Multiple Sclerosis Center of Southwest Florida is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has served the community since 2000. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for those in Southwest Florida affected by multiple sclerosis.
The organization provides access to therapeutic, wellness and mental health services through qualified contracted providers. Clients can receive services not typically covered by insurance to help them manage the symptoms of their disease. Services are offered with only a small co-pay from the client. Group classes, educational events and support groups are offered at no charge to registered clients. Programs and services are supported by individual donations, foundation grants and fundraising events.
The MS Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 3372 Woods Edge Circle No. 103, Bonita Springs, between U.S. 41 and Woods Edge Parkway. Call 239-435-1901 or go to mscenterswfl.org.